During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on June 5, 2026, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) criticized Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) after she accused the Trump administration of negatively impacting immigrant communities. The hearing focused on the SCAM Act, or the Stop Citizenship Abuse and Misrepresentation Act, which aims to impose stricter requirements on naturalized citizens compared to those born in the U.S. Hirono, a naturalized citizen, expressed concern that the bill would treat naturalized citizens as second-class citizens.
Schmitt countered by accusing Hirono of defending individuals convicted of serious crimes, stating, "If you commit a terrorist act, if you commit wholesale welfare fraud, within 10 years, you're damn right we're deporting you." He referenced cases of individuals who had committed crimes after becoming naturalized citizens, including Mirsad Ramic, who joined the Islamic State, and Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, involved in a shooting incident. The Trump administration has claimed that anti-fraud efforts have uncovered significant amounts of money that could help balance the budget.
